''Monster in a Box'' is a

monologue In theatre, a monologue (from el, μονόλογος, from μόνος ''mónos'', "alone, solitary" and λόγος ''lógos'', "speech") is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes a ...

originally performed live on stage by the writer

Spalding Gray Spalding Gray (June 5, 1941 – January 11, 2004) was an American actor, novelist, playwright, screenwriter and performance artist. He is best known for the autobiographical monologues that he wrote and performed for the theater in the 1980s and ...

then subsequently made into a 1992 film starring Gray and directed by

Nick Broomfield Nicholas Broomfield (born 1948) is an English documentary film director. His self-reflective style has been regarded as influential to many later filmmakers. In the early 21st century, he began to use non-actors in scripted works, which he cal ...

. A follow-up to Gray's earlier work, '' Swimming to Cambodia'', the work consists of a long-form monologue by Gray detailing the trials and tribulations he encountered while writing his

first novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to pu ...

, ''Impossible Vacation'' (the titular "monster"). He also relates the sudden fame afforded him after the release of '' Swimming to Cambodia''. The soundtrack for the film was composed by

Laurie Anderson Laurel Philips Anderson (born June 5, 1947), known as Laurie Anderson, is an American avant-garde artist, composer, musician, and film director whose work spans performance art, pop music, and multimedia projects. Initially trained in violin and ...

. An extended version of the monologue was published in book form prior to the release of the film.

Parody

This monologue – or at least its title – was parodied on ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) a ...

'' in an installment of "

Monsterpiece Theater ''Monsterpiece Theater'' is a recurring segment on the popular children's television series ''Sesame Street'', a parody of '' Masterpiece Theatre''. Format While using Muppet characters to act out educational principles, primarily Grover and ot ...

." The main actor (and writer) for the parody was a monster aptly called Spalding Monster in homage to Gray.

References

External links

* 1992 films Concert films Films directed by Nick Broomfield 1992 drama films One-character films Films scored by Laurie Anderson 1990s English-language films {{1990s-drama-film-stub